Exit-door latch



March 7 12, 1929.

c. F. KUSCH EXIT DOOR LATCH Fild Dec 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2Shgts-Shet 2 11:1 vE'm CIR I Ci zzrvies yzeaezic Mzscla C. F. KUSCH EXITDOOR LATCH Filed Dec. :51, 1925 3 1. 1 a 1:1. I. f 1 I. v x y March 12,1929.

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.-

vireo s res f A T JEN T* ()FPFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK ussia, 01? G'HICAGG, ILLINOIS.

EXIT- DOOR LATCH.

Application filed December 31, 1925. 'Serial No. 78 ,501. a

This invention relates to an exit door for schools, theaters and thelike.

It frequently happens in cases of panics "in schools, theaters and otherpublic buildparticularly pointed out and defined in ings that many livesare lostbecause of inability to open the exit doors. While the doors maynot be locked yet because of the hysteria of those within. trying to getout, no one has the presence of mind toiunlatch the door. Oftentimes,too, the press ofv a mob behind attempting to reach a door will make itimpossible for those nearest the door to release the latch.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an exit doorhaving a panel on the inside thereof adapted to automatically open thedoor upon slight pressure there against.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an exit door adaptedto be opened automatically when pressure exerted against any portion ofa considerable areaof the door.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, which will become more apparentin the following description and disclosures, this invention comprisesthe novel mechanism and combinations hereinafter described and mofie t eappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthis invention .and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views.

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an exit door embodying the principlesof this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a. second modified form of mydevice.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational View of the same.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional View of a modified form of latchingdevice.

In Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the reference numeral 1 indicates an exitdoor, embodying the principles of my invention. Said door 1 is providedwith the usual hinges 2 adapted to allow the door toopen outwardly/ On"the inside of said door l and spaced therefro-m,'there is pivotallymounted on the brackets 3 a panel 4. 'Said'panel 4 ispreferablyofrelatively large area and extends substantially the height of thedoor. Asign 5 on the panel 4 indicates that the panel is to p be pushedin order to open the door 1. The

mechanism for opening said door comprises a' bent latching bar 6 securedby hearing lugs? to the inner surface ofthedoor 1..

Said barb is formed-with a pair of horizontalarms' 8 and an integralhorizontal looped portion 9 intermediate between said arms 8 andextending to therear edge of the panel 4. An angle shaped nembed 10 isprovided, having one leg secured to the panel 4 adj acent totherear-edge thereof, and the'other leg 11 extending horizontallyrearwardly into the loop 9. A spring 12 secured at one end to an eyebolt13 in the-door 1- is connected at itsother end to the base of the loopportion 9. The endsof the arms" 8 are adapted'to be retained in sockets14 on the door jamb 40 when thedoor' 1 is closed.

It will be evident that when the panel '4 is pushed or 'otherwise swungtoward the door 1, asfshownin dotted lines in Figure 2, the leg 11 ofthe angle member 10 will engage the loop'9 to displace the bent latchingbar 6 to one side. The arms 8 will there upon be withdrawn fr'omthesockets 14 and the door 1 will open. When the door is open the spring 12will act to pull thelatching bar 6 backinto normal position. In orderthat the door may be shut more readily; the

end of the arms 8 are beveled as at 15 and curved guide members 16areprovided for 20 are withdrawn suliiciently to clear the strip 17 andthus allow the door to be opened. In closing the door,. the guide plates19 serve as guides for the ends 21, which are beveled as at 22 to'allowthem to more easily pass over the curved surfaces of said guides 19. Thespring 12'will pull the arms 20 into locked position as soon as 261areprovided near the rear edge ofsaid panel 24 for operating thelatching'bolt 25.

' the latching bolts. 25 sothat the door 23 may be swung open. A detentmember 27,

As the panel-2l is pushed toward the door 23, said-angle members 26operate to release secured to the latching bolt is adapted to be incontinuous engagement with an arm 28 of a pivoted unbalanced counterweight 29. On movement of the panel 24, said' detent member .27 causesthe counter weight 29 r to be swung upwardly, but assoon as the door 23has swung clear of the door jambs,

the latching bolt 25 will be free to move back into normal position andthis will automati cally be accomplished by the falling of the counterweight 29.

In Figures 5 to 7 inclusive I have shown a second modified form of my"device illustrating a different method of, operating the latching bar.

face of a door 31, as in the previous instances. A plurality ofhorizontal latching bars 32 are each pivotally mounted at one endon theoutside ofv the door 31 and are supported for limited pivotal movementby yokes 39. Said latching bars 32 are provided at their other ends withrollers 33 adapted to be received in sockets 34 secured to the j amb ofthe door. A rigid connecting .link 38 is secured to said bars 32, sothat7 horizontal edge contacting the lower edge they all may be operated asa unit. A triangular member 35 is pivotally mounted below one of saidbars 32 with its upper A panel is pivotally mounted adjacent one edgefrom the inner of said bar. A cable, or link, 36 is connected at one endto said member by means of a pin 41 extending from said member 35 at apoint above its fulcrum through the door 31. Said cable or link 36 isalso connected at its other end to an angle member 37 Said angle member37, like the member 11, is secured to the rear edge of the panel 30, sothat when the panel 30 is pushed outwardly, said member 37 draws thelink, or cable, 36

to one side and tilts the triangular shaped member 35 as. shown indotted lines in Figure 6. 'Thereupon the bars 32 are also tilted andtheir free ends raised out of the sockets 34.

' In all the various types of exit doors described, it will be apparentthat-I have provided means whereby said doors maybe gency or. panic bypersons blindly seeking for a way out. Y

readily and quickly opened in case of emer I am aware that many changesmay be made and that numerous details of construction my be variedthrough a w-ide.range without departing from the principles of thisinvention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent grantedhereon, oth" erwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I clalm as my invention: 1'. Bolt mechanism for an exit door, sa dmechanism including a latching bar, a panel hinged on one edge thereofto said door, and a unltary member on said panel ad acent the hmged'edgethereof and engageable with said latching bar to operatethe same- 2.Bolt mechanism for an exit door, said mechanism including a unitarylatching bar having a plurality of portions thereon engageable with stopmembers to secure. said door, a panel hinged on one edge thereof to saiddoor, and an angular member on said A panel adjacent the hinged edgethereof adapted to engage said latching bar to operate the same.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES FREDERICK KUSCH.

